Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
The Official Kenfig Community History Project
Kenfig.org Local Community Group
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This website project documents the entire history of Kenfig & surrounding areas from prehistory to the present day. This website is permanent & is continually being updated.
HistoryMAIN HISTORY SECTION - View
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War YearsMAIN WAR YEARS SECTION - View
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CommunityMAIN COMMUNITY SECTION - View
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FolkloreMAIN FOLKLORE SECTION - View
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The CoastMAIN COAST SECTION - View
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Search Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
History of Education around Kenfig - Coming Soon
Bryndu School, Kenfig Hill (c.1914)
About 1857 C R M Talbot MP, of Margam Estate (Owner of Bryndu Slip Colliery) started a temporary school in colliery stables; known as Bryndu
Works School. In 1860's Bryndu School was built at the end of School Road, Kenfig Hill - it was demolished in 1957.
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Throughout Kenfig & surrounding areas, leases, wills and other legal documents were being signed by local inhabitants as far back as
the mid 17th century – furthermore, these signatures were not only from particularly well-to-do families that had been sent away to be
educated, but from the local peoples of the area as well. In a deed dated 1659 relating to a house called Ty Mawr – now known as Haregrove
farmhouse, there was mention of a room called “The Skoole”.
Cefn Cribbwr School c.1910
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Cefn Cribbwr School
This was built in 1894 as Cefn Cribwr Board School in a single small building on the site of its present infant section.
In 1902 the so called 'mixed department' referred to as the 'Big School' was added; the 2 schools soon had several hundred pupils between them which
became inadequate & c.1914 this original building was demolished being replaced by its present one. At that time the school motto was inscribed on the
fron wall of the school - it reads... Esgyn Yw Nod Ysgol - To achieve is the aim of the school.
The school board was abolished & Cefn became a Council School operated by the Glamorgan County Council. The school was refurbished in the 1930's with
a playground & initial corridor for the 'big school' being introduced and a school canteen & central heating were added in 1957 - internal toilets were added
after this date. The early Headmasters appear to have been Welsh baptists - Mr Idris Williams (Headteacher during & after WWII) was a devout Anglican being the first to break
this tradition.
Source: Cefn Cribbwr Primary School, Bridgend County Borough Council.
History of Education around Kenfig - Coming Soon
The History of Sport around Kenfig
COMING SOON... www.kenfig.org.uk/community/sports/ |
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March 10Latest News: This is Your Heritage 2013Learn all about Kenfig Times at ‘This is Your heritage 2013' Conference on Saturday 06 April at Pencoed Campus, Bridgend College between 09:30am & 13:30pm FREE ENTRY
Event Provided by Bridgend REACH (Bridgend Heritage Network - www.bridgendsheritage.co.uk)
Come along to this Free event & learn all about Kenfig's Rich & Colourful History
Kenfig.org Web Management Team
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Kenfig / Cynffig - The Complete History
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Kenfig (Welsh: Cynffig)
Explore the history and importance of the Kenfig / Cynffig Borough - a medieval and now buried city on the South Wales coastline,
United Kingdom - a location historically represented within the British governmental establishment and steeped in myth & legend.
Learn about the history & development of the entire Kenfig and surrounding areas and its peoples throughout the ages
together with viewing a unique and envious Pictorial History of the
entire area exclusive here on Kenfig - The Complete History website.
Experience local ghost stories and folklore, tales of
smuggling & shipwrecks and learn of the beauty & turbulent
past of Sker House together with its lovelorn maids.
Experience what it was like during WWII throughout the entire area together with personal
oral accounts from local people and from individuals both here in the UK and throughout the world who have special
memories of the area and the former RAF base at Stormy Down located nearby.
Exclusive to our
Members Area
are detailed oral accounts of the area from local people together with personal photographs, documents, and
information donated by local peoples themselves to this website project. View our Famous People and Sporting Halls of
Fame sections along with a unique local family tree section aimed at encouraging the research of these areas
especially by local peoples with the overview of creating an totally unique database of the true history of the
Kenfig and surrounding areas.
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A 21st Century online Educational Resource
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A Government Sponsored ProjectWelcome to Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
Founded in March 2003 Learn more.. [
Community Organisation] this online website project documents the entire factual history of the old Kenfig Borough / old Bro Cynffig
from pre-historic times to the present day providing a comprehensive digital documentary of life in South Wales. The website has undergone an extensive new look
with improved usability/navigation together with containing more specialist information on the Kenfig area
that should be accessible across all Internet & mobile web browsing platforms.
Learn more.. [
Internet Technology] Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) was founded by Rob Bowen
[Biography - Rob Bowen] This website project is operated as a not for profit organisation which is part sponsored by the
Welsh Assembly Government & Bridgend County Borough Council
and which has kindly recieved grant funding through BAVO (Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations) for the purchase
of computer equipment to enable us to develop, design & manage this website.
This website has been granted Heritage Status by the National Library of Wales and is being archived for posterity through both the
National Library of Wales and the UK Web Archive
(Kenfig.org: Kenfig - The Complete History) which is provided by
the British Library. This website is also listed as an online educational resource that can
be used for the teaching of local history that forms a part of the Curriculum Cymreig in Wales.
Our website aims are to provide a World Class online Educational Resource that will aide both the Nations Heritage and Education network in Wales.
The Kenfig.org website currently attracts around 2.1 million worldwide visitors per year and is used by Schools, Colleges, Universities &
Government Educational Departments around the world.
Rob Bowen - Chair/Author/Webmaster
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Tide Timetable - Porthcawl 2013
JUNE 2013 |
Whole Year
 Tide Time Tables
(Porthcawl 2013)LATEST UPDATES: January 2013 (full month), February (full month), March (full month), April (full month), May (full month), June (full month)
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DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
HEIGHT(m) |
TIME |
HEIGHT(m) |
TIME |
HEIGHT(m) |
TIME |
HEIGHT(m) |
Sat |
01 |
0029 |
8.83 |
0648 |
2.27 |
1301 |
8.24 |
1916 |
2.63 |
Sun |
02 |
0132 |
8.50 |
0755 |
2.51 |
1408 |
8.05 |
2027 |
2.74 |
Mon |
03 |
0240 |
8.35 |
0902 |
2.56 |
1517 |
8.10 |
2134 |
2.66 |
Tue |
04 |
0347 |
8.40 |
1003 |
2.46 |
1620 |
8.32 |
2232 |
2.47 |
Wed |
05 |
0446 |
8.57 |
1054 |
2.28 |
1715 |
8.61 |
2321 |
2.26 |
Thu |
06 |
0538 |
8.77 |
1140 |
2.10 |
1802 |
8.88 |
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Fri |
07 |
0004 |
2.07 |
0622 |
8.94 |
1219 |
1.94 |
1842 |
9.09 |
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Tide Timetables 2013
Courtesy: Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory,
Bidston Observatory, Birkenhead, Merseyside. Copyright Reserved © Time Zone: BST - High Tide = larger number in meters
LATEST NEWS
The Kenfig Heritage Project - 2012Documenting Kenfig's Rich & Colourful History Digitally Since 2003
We are continually striving to improve this website's usability & navigation together with making its information more accessible
across all Internet & Mobile Web Browsing Platforms.
We are continually adding more content to this website & entrust the updating of the website
will not interfere too much with the viewing of this site in general - Website Management Team.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - Kenfig National Nature ReserveThis website is NOT the Official Website for the Kenfig Nature Reserve Centre -
Please DO NOT email this website with queries relating to and/or associated with Kenfig NNR - We are NOT in a position to reply to any emails.
Please contact the reserve directly.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - IP/Copyright InformationPlease READ and TAKE NOTICE of the information contained in the following section on this website -
this is the LAW & VERY IMPORTANT
Intellectual Property READ & TAKE NOTICE
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Curriculum Cymreig
CONTENT CURRENTLY BEING UPDATEDDetails where information on this website can be used especially by local
schools in the Bridgend County Borough for the teaching of local history that forms a part of the Curriculum Cymreig will be listed here in the near future.
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WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM CYMREIGThe Curriculum Cymreig is apart of the curriculum that is special to Wales.
It is designed to reflect the history, geography and culture of Wales
and your locality. The Curriculum Cymreig helps develop:
Curriculum Cymreig :: e-ResourcesThe National Library of Wales aims to direct users to Internet resources within Wales on the Web that maybe
of use to the teaching of the Curriculum Cymreig and to schools in general. The Kenfig.org website has been vetted
for its suitability and hence has been included within the Wales on the Web Curriculum Cymreig guide.
Local History Curriculum Guide
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Calendar - Local Events 2012
EXPLORE KENFIG - THE COMPLETE HISTORY (e-RESOURCE)
History Section
Kenfig area from Pre-History to Present Day
War Years Section
What it was like around Kenfig during WWII
Community Section
The Kenfig Community in Depth
Folklore Section
Supernatural Tales from around Kenfig
The Coast Section
The South Wales Coastline in Depth
History Section
Learn the history of the old Kenfig Borough from prehistoric times to the present day;
the history of local villages & towns around Kenfig together with aspects of history in general...
VIEW HISTORY SECTION
War Years Section
Explore Kenfig and surrounding areas during and throughout the War Years especially the 1939-45 World War...
VIEW WAR YEARS SECTION
Community Section
Learn about community life in and around the Kenfig area - transport, religion, schools, choirs, commerce,
agriculture, social outings/charity events & crime and punishment...
VIEW COMMUNITY SECTION
Folklore Section
An assortment of local tales and supernatural occurances from around the Kenfig Borough - Learn of Phantom funerals,
Cwn Annwn, the Cyhiraeth, haunted pubs, ancient wells and local customs...
VIEW FOLKLORE SECTION
The Coast Section
The South Wales coastline around Kenfig & Porthcawl to include shipwrecks from 1583, tales of smuggling, wrecking/looting of
vessels & the development of Porthcawl harbour/inshore lifeboat...
VIEW THE COAST SECTION
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The CyhiraethThe Cyhiraeth is a ghostly wailing and shrieking sound - this brings fear to all who hear it. It's a certain harbinger of a coming storm or wreck.
Spectre on a White HorseA spectre on a white horse - if this is encountered on a night of a new moon, the beholder has the certainty of a dreadful end before 12 months have passed.
The Bottomless PoolIn 1857 a story was told in the kenfig area of an Evan Lewis who attempted to cross Kenfig Pool in a horse and carriage. The wheels of the coach snagged
in the remains of the old town beneath the waters, and man, horse and carriage disappeared and were never more seen.
Inquest records and the parish registers show that in 1837 thirteen year old Evan Lewis was drowned in kenfig Pool on 2 September whilst washing a coach
elonging to his master. His body was buried two days later.
Sker HouseThe spectre of the ill-fated Maid of Sker frequently appeared in an upstairs room, wherein she was said to have been confined by her father.
Her appearances are supposed to have been accompanied by the clanking of chains and other curious phenomena.
R.D.Blackmore's Maid of Sker also featured a ghostly apparition, this time in the guise of a monk. "Abbots walk" within Sker house was the home of a
quarrelsome fellow who fell out with his Holy brethren and came to an untimely end. His spectre groans in the middle of the night.
The Tolaeth...The Cyhiraeth sometimes brought the "Tolaeth", another sound, less frightening but more ghostly. This was the noise a carpenter would hear at night after
making a coffin when nobody else was in his workshop but himself. It's associated with the sound of hammering.
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The Ghost of Pyle Church
Visiting Pyle Church on All Hallows Eve you will hear the ghost relating incidents which were to happen during the ensuing year. It commenced by reciting a
list of parishioners who were destined to die during the year. Then followed the names of those to be married. It is still a mystery of whether young men would
secretly enter the church to make the announcements or whether so great was the superstition of the local people many would implicitly believe it was a ghost.
Gwyneth and Owen
This tale is from the medieval period when Owen, who was a novice at Margam Abbey, had the misfortune to fall in love with a local girl named Gwyneth,
the grand-daughter of a sorceress named Maud living in Cwm Kenfig.
The couple had a regular meeting place near the banks of the river Kenfig, but one day their tryst was brought to an abrupt end by a sudden and violent storm.
As the couple struggled to find shelter they got hopelessly lost and above the raging of the storm and the roar of the swollen river, heard the frightful screams of
the Gwrach Y Rhibyn (Hag of the Mist) mocking the futility of their efforts to reach safety.
All who heard the cry of the Hag knew that some dire misfortune awaited them.
As night fell the doomed couple struggled on, but a demon known as the Torrent Spectre appeared and swept the two into the swollen waters of the river Kenfig.
Later the same night fishermen at Sker were disturbed to hear the eerie keening of the Cyhiraeth whose cry was said to herald the arrival of a corpse on the beach.
As dawn broke it was to reveal the bodies of the two lovers lying on the sands clasped in one another's arms.
Bwci Bo
The field on the north side of Pyle Church, now occupied by a small private housing estate, was once known as "Puckwall".
The name probably dervives from the English sprite Puck, which in turn perhaps originates from the Welsh "Bwca" or "Bwci Bo".
It was believed that Bwci Bo was a goblin or elf who haunted certain farmhouses and if well fed with milk left out for him at night,
would help with the housework whilst the good people slept.
If he were spied upon or ill-treated in anyway, he would bring ill luck to the house and find a new abode for himself. He was sometimes known
as "Bwca'r Trwyn" from his long nose, which differentiates him from the button-nosed Puck of English legend.
A Skeleton from Our Past...
The location of the church of St.James that served the former town of Kenfig buried beneath the sand dunes is thought to be approximately
300 yards south of the remains of Kenfig Castle. The basis for this if from various finds of human bones in the dunes.
One such discovery at the begining of the 20th century is recorded in the book "Annals of South Glamorgan" by Marianne Robertson Spencer, published in 1913.
The graveyard of the old church is buried under the sands and numbers of coffinless skeletons have been found there from time to time - these exposed by the shifting sands.
Not so very long ago, some boys coming over the sand dunes early one morning and crossing the old burial place found an entire skeleton resting on the
sub-soil from which the sand had just been blown. There was no sign of any coffin and every bone was in place... The remains were taken up and interred in the present grave yard.
Kenfig Pool - Vengence is coming!
A local chieftain wronged and wounded a Prince and the latter, with his dying breath, pronounced a curse against the wrongdoer.
The curse was forgotten until one night the decendants of the chieftain heard a fearful cry; "Dial a ddaw! Dial a ddaw!" (Vengence is coming!).
At first it passed unnoticed, but when the cry was repeated night after night, the owner of Kenfig asked the domestic bard what it meant. The bard
repeated the old story of revenge, however this was dismissed and a great feast was undertaken with music and song.
In the midst of the carousal the fearful warning cry was repeatedly heard, and suddenly the earth trembled and water rushed into the place.
Before anybody could escape, the town of Kenfig, with its palace, houses and people was swallowed up and only a deep dark lake or pool remains to mark the scene of the disaster.
In the early part of the nineteenth century traces of the masonary could be seen and felt with grappling irons in the pool...
TRANSPORT - RAILWAYS - THE PORTHCAWL RAILWAY
HISTORY - PORTHCAWL
The Porthcawl BranchHistory
Porthcawl stands on a low headland at the far edge of a series of small bays to the west of the mouth of the river Ogmore and a few miles below the sourthern
outcrop of the South Wales coalfield.
The railway that served Porthcawl was notable for it was owned by 5 successful undertakings and at various times embodied 3 different gauges.
Porthcawl was the obvious choice for a harbour when in the early 19th century the development of the iron & coal industries along the Cefn Cribbwr ridge and
at Maesteg in the Llynfi Valley created the demand for a shipping outlet.
The TramroadThe creation of the Duffryn Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway Company in June 1825 (Read more... )
was a tramroad having rails spiked direct to stone blocks & reputedly constructed to the unusual gauge of 4ft 7in with its starting point at Dyffryn Llynvi about
1 ½ miles north of Maesteg.
This tramroad crossed Maesteg from the east to the west bank of the river Llynfi then passed down the valley through Troedyrhiw, Garth and Tondu where it
followed the north side of Cefn Cribbwr before passing round the west flank of Kenfig Hill to Pyle, Cornelly and Porthcawl.
The total length was 16¾ miles in which there was a fall of 490 feet giving an overall average gradient of 1 in 180 descending towards the sea.
The tramroad is reputed to have been opened for horse-drawn traffic in 1829 and 5 years later became connected from Park Slip (west of Tondu) to the town
of Bridgend (about 4 miles south eastwards) by another horse-worked tramroad known as the Bridgend Railway.
With the development of industry and traffic the Llynfi Valley Railway Company was incorporated in 1846 & took over the Porthcawl tramroad in 1847 and the Bridgend
Railway in 1854.
in 1855 a further Act was obtained authorising the conversion of both the Porthcawl & Bridgend tramroads into locomotive-worked broad gauge railways connecting
at Bridgend with the South Wales Railway which was opened to Swansea in 1850.
To be continued...
This section to be Continued in full... together with Exclusive Coverage of First Great Western Schools Rail Safety Initiative which was launched on Friday 06 July 2012 at Ysgol yr Ferch o'r Sger School in North Cornelly.
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First Great Western Schools Rail Safety Initiative
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First Great Western Schools Rail Safety Initiative will be visiting schools throughout the Kenfig & surrounding areas delivering a powerful safety message aimed at school children and rail safety in general. This website will not only be documenting the history of local railways but also helping to promote this unique & informative rail safety message for all to learn from.
Kenfig.org is pleased to announce that it has exclusive & 1st hand coverage of all these school visits.
The schools rail safety initiative
was launched by Geraint Llewellyn, a local high speed train driver in July 2012 after a near-miss with two children sitting on the railway tracks at Briton
Ferry; the project has the full backing of First Great Western, British Transport Police, local Councillors, South Wales AM's & the Welsh Government and has already
been heavily covered by the Press & Media including the BBC & ITV News networks together with local & national Radio/Newspapers.
Further Information - Read more...
Train driver Geraint Llewellyn takes safety message to schools after near-miss BBC News South West Wales
Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sger pupils learn about railway safety Wales online - Glamorgan Gazette
ON THIS DAY (08 AUGUST 1932) COMMUNITY - MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
HISTORY - PORTHCAWL
The Grand Pavilion, PorthcawlBrief History
The Grand Pavilion was built on a piece of land known as 'Brogden's Field' by the Porthcawl Urban District Council & was the brainchild of Cllr Russell Mabley JP.
The building was designed by architect E.J.E.Moore on 07 Dec 1931 being fabled to have been based on a similar styled building in Singapore.
The cutting of the 1st sod was on 9 Oct 1931 when the site was cleared & foundations began.
By early 1932 its structure had taken shape & work started on the erection of the ferrous concrete octagonal dome.
Due to the importance of the use of ferrous concrete in the construction of the dome, the Grand Pavilion was given a Grade II listed status in 1998.
The Grand Pavilion & Winter Gardens were built at a cost of Ł25,000.00 - The 2-faced clock situated atop the front facade of the building is
known as the Queen Alexandra Memorial Clock & was erected by public subscription.
The Grand Pavilion celebrates its 80th birthday today & is operated by Bridgend County Borough Council's Arts & Culture Service.
more info: www.grandpavilion.co.uk
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COMMUNITY - SPORTS & PASTIMES
BOXING
Local Boxing - Sporting Hall of Fame
Peter Delbridge (born Pyle 07/12/1934)Peter Delbridge was born in Pyle and boxed between 1959 & 1962 in 20 Professional contests.
He started boxing at the age of 13 at Pyle Amateur Boxing Club. At 18 years of age he was the N.C.B. Flyweight Champion, at 19 N.C.B. Bantamweight Champion
and at 20 N.C.B. Featherweight Champion. He fought all the top amateurs in Europe at those weights and in 1956 was voted top boxer in Wales.
At the age of 25 he turned professional and boxed for a further 4 years in about 200 matches.
He worked in the Steel Works in Port Talbot for 22 years.
He played darts around the local pubs & clubs as well as coaching youngsters at Porthcawl A.B.C.
Source: Lyn Smith, MCK Newsletter Team 2004
External Links:Peter Delbridge Biography BOXREC
Ron Cooper Biography WELSH WARRIORS
Bryn Lewis Biography WELSH WARRIORS
Kenfig.org is not responsible for the content and/or accuracy of external website links
A-Z of Sports (Around Kenfig & Surrounding Areas)... Coming Soon |
THE COAST - HISTORY - ON THIS DAY (23 April 1947)
The Samtampa / Edward Prince of Wales Lifeboat Tragedy
The SamtampaOn this day, 23 April in 1947 (66 years ago) one of the worst maritime disasters in living memory along the South Wales coastline happened.
The Samtampa cargo ship with all 39 crew along with all 8 Lifeboatmen of Edward Prince of Wales Lifeboat from Mumbles perished on the rocks at Sker
in attrocious weather conditions. The Samtampa was broken into 3 parts - the Mumbles Lifeboat found smashed and upside down on the rocks.
The TragedyThe Samtampa, a former Liberty Ship, was on a voyage from Middlesborugh to Newport, in ballast. A strong westerly gale was in progress when
she entered the Bristol Channel where the ship developed an engine fault. It was decided by her Captain, H. Neale Sherwell to drop anchor in Swansea
Bay to carry out repairs to the engine. The weather was deteriating by the minute and at 4.38pm the starboard anchor chain parted and 12 minutes later the port cable snapped.
The Samtampa was taken eastwards in the hurricane force winds and within 20 minutes she was on the rocky ledges near Sker Point.
The Mumbles LifeboatEDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES was launched just after 6pm to go to the rescue. William Gammon, who had been Lifeboat Coxswain for 7 years, was at the helm of the
lifeboat as they headed across Swansea bay to Sker.
At the same time the Porthcawl Coastguards and rocket team were attempting to get a line to the wreck from the shore. The wind speed was said to have been
in excess of 100 mph and in less than 5 minutes of the Samtampa hitting the rocks she started to break up.
Around 2 hours later she was a total wreck, the 10m waves having broken her into large pieces. The rocket apparatus became ineffective due to the
extreme high winds and a line out to the stricken vessel failed. It is said that some of the rockets were driven back so far by the ferrocious
wind that they landed in fields behind the rocket operators themselves.
All crew of the Samtampa were drowned - the full disaster was realised by the morning of 24 April. The Mumbles Lifeboat had failed to return,
and instead was found smashed upside down on Sker Rocks. When the town of Mumbles, Swansea learned of the news, the whole town was in mourning.
The Crew of S.S. Samtampa25 of the crew of the Samtampa were from the North East of England. 10 of whom were from Middlesbrough, 4 from Whitby, 2 each from Stockton,
Redcar and Staithes and 1 each from South Bank, Skelton, Bishop Auckland, West Hartlepool and Thornaby.
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In Memory of all who perished on that fateful day
To the Memory of the Captain And the thirty eight Crew Members Of the Freighter S.S. SAMTAMPA Who perished on these rocks In the Great Storm of
April 23rd 1947, And of the Cox'n and Crew of Seven of the Mumbles Lifeboat, "EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES" Who lost their lives in their valiant rescue attempt.
This Plaque marks the final Resting place of The Mumbles Lifeboat.
Memorial - final resting place of Lifeboat on Sker Rocks (GPS coordinates- SS79177941)
Related Links
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The Crew of S.S.Samtampa - We Remember these gallant sailors
William Mensworth (35)Ship's Fireman - served in the war on a munition ship torpedoed in a Russian convoy. |
R Weatherill (29)Donkeyman of 6 Sayers yard, Whitby, married with two children, served in Royal Navy during war as a petty officer. |
Arthur Callighan (30)Donkeyman greaser, of North Ormesby was in the Merchant Navy from the beginning of the war. |
Ralph Chester (17)Deck boy, was on his third trip since joining the Merchant Navy. He was at home for his 17th birthday and his brother's wedding on Easter Monday. |
Joseph Griffiths (24)Assistant cook, was on his second trip since his return to the Merchant Navy. He married a South Bank girl only seven weeks previous. He had been a prisoner of war in Japan for 3˝ years. |
Harry Garside (23)He was on his first voyage in the Merchant navy less than a year after leaving the Royal Navy, he was married but no children. |
John Strangeway (22)Assistant Steward - had been at sea since he was 15. |
L F Davidson (24)Able seaman, a single man, he had been in the Merchant Navy since he was 15. |
Donald Hill (26)Able seaman, during the war he served for six years in the Royal Navy and was in the first flotilla of minesweepers which swept the way for the invasion force on D-day. |
Charles Frederick Shinner (20)Was on his fifth voyage, previously he had worked at Dorman Long's and taken a prominent part in local athletics. |
H Lees (24)Came from a seafaring family, his home was formerly at Birkenhead, he was married with two children. |
Patrick McKenna (47)Went back to sea after an absence of 20 years because he could not get over his wife's death, it was his first voyage. |
George Webster (21)Fireman - made his first sea trip to Normandy on D-day. |
Joseph Gilraine (22)Had just recovered from yellow jaundice and his widowed mother did not want him to make the trip. |
Francis Cannon (30)Donkeyman greaser the son of a sailor. His father, was on a voyage, lost another son at sea during the war. |
Arnold Nicholson (19)Galley boy - had been at sea for nearly four years. He was a well known member of Redcar Literary Institute and this was his fourth trip. |
Joseph Croft (19)Assistant steward went to sea almost straight from school, his mother thought he would give it up after the war but 'it was in his blood.' |
James John Bell (29)Boatswain - he lost two brothers also at sea in the war. |
Isaac Longster (35)Able seaman - he lost two brothers at sea during the war. |
J Thompson (32) |
John T Souter JnrOrdinary seaman. |
K K RichardsonSecond engineer. |
Stanley Daritis (19)Ordinary seaman. |
William John Davis (53)Able seaman. |
C Jackson (32)Ship's carpenter. |
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Names of other men who were not signed on in MiddlesboroughCapt H N Sherwell, D Lowe(First officer), G L Murray(Second officer), P MarshallL(Third officer), W E Thompson(Radio officer),
W A Atkinson(Chief engineer), J Riley(Third engineer), B McDonald(Fourth engineer).
Other members of crewP Allam(Chief steward), R N Lythel(Second steward), B Jones(Chief cook)
ApprenticesJ Ellis, P Ferns, J Wilson
Source:
UK-NORTHEAST-L Archives (Evening Gazette, Thursday 24th April 1947), Pauline Gregg (York UK), Researching: Brown, Searle, Olvanhill, Gregory, Huskinson (all Middlesbrough area)
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The Lifeboat Crew Remembered :: Edward, Prince of Wales
William Gammon - Coxswain
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William Noel - Second Coxswain
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Ernest Griffin - Mechanic
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William Lewis Howell - Mechanic
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William Davies - Mechanic
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W R S Thomas - Mechanic
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W R Thomas - Mechanic
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R Smith - Mechanic
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Images: Kenfig.org / Glamorgan Gazette
HISTORY - THE KENFIG COMMUNITY
Croes Y Ddadl (Cross of Dispute)
Background - Location near to Maudlam Cross
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The base of this cross stands almost completely buried by sand in the dunes a little north east of the crossroads formed by the junction of Heol Fach
(North Cornelly) with the road from Marlas to Maudlam near Maudlam Cross; this was once a trackway which crossed Mont Mawr near Maudlam Cross.
The cross itself has long disappeared but its socketed base (a moulded Sutton block) is still visible. It presumably marks the original site of this
crossroads which has been 'pushed' inland away from it by the advancing sand - its name seems to imply that it was originally a place used by local
people as a meeting point at which differences and disputes between them could be settled.
Historical Information - The Kenfig Charters c.1397
Croes y Ddadl or the Cross of Debate is referred to in Thomas le Despenser's Charter to the Kenfig burgesses c.1397 where its called
Taddulcrosse. Tradition has it that minor differences between the burgesses were thrashed out there, a belief that might have some glimmer of truth as
crosses played an important part in the lives of the peoples in medieval days which were objects of veneration and when set up in market
places, traders were aware of their presence & conducted their business in an honourable fashion.
Turnpike Trust Dispute - 1843
The Croes y Ddadl was centre of serious deliberation on 26 October 1843 when a crowd of over 500 angry local farmers & freeholders assembled there
to protest against the burdens imposed by the toll-gates set up by the Bridgend Trust. After a heated discussion, Jehosophat Powell of Eglwysnunydd
was chosen to present a petition to the Trust requesting the removal of the gates at Redhill, Pyle (Stormy Down) and Taibach, Port Talbot.
The disputes arose that merchants were attempting to bypass the Borough Markets by utilzing the Pont Velin Newydd crossing (Water Street).
As documented in the Swansea Journal of 01 November 1843, there were 2 trouble spots at Pyle - these were:
In addition to this a chain was placed across the main road running from Bridgend to Aberavon.
Source: Bridgend Library & Information Services, The Story of Kenfig (A.Leslie Evans)
HISTORY - GENERAL - ARCHAEOLOGY
Local Archaeological Finds
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Information
The above coin was found near the Roman coastal road 'Julia Maritima' (Water Street) not far from Kenfig in 2011, the person who found the coin wishes to remain
anonymous, however, the coin was verified for its authenticity by the National Museum of Wales in 2011. We were privilaged to be able to take photographs of the coin
which appear here courtesy of its finder. The following information was kindly supplied by the National Museum of Wales
HISTORY - MEDIEVAL KENFIG
The Kenfig Ordinances (Bye-Laws)
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The ancient medieval town of Kenfig's bye-laws or Ordinances make for interesting reading at the beginning of the 21st century as they reflect
the customs of that point in time together with the pattern of life within medieval Kenfig showing it to be a well regulated community. A copy of the
Kenfig Ordinances that were drawn up & revised dates from c.1330 - these would have been made by the Portreeve or chief municipal officer & his aldermen at Kenfig.
Bakers, Brewers & TannersThe town's bakers who were licenced by the Portreeve were ordered to bake wholesome bread of a standard weight fixed by the corporation
'on pain of grevious amerciament (fine) and further punishments provided by his Majesty's laws & statues for such heinous and intolerable offences.
Similar ordinances applied to brewers and tanners.
ButchersButchers were forbidden to sell meat on Sundays or to slaughter or scald animals in the High Street; if they were burgesses they had to conduct their
business under the town shambles. Non-resident butchers could only conduct business on Fridays & Saturdays.
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Fighting or BrawlingBrawlers in the town who drew blood were to be amerced 3s.4d. for the offence with additional fines for the affray at the Portreeve's pleasure.
SanitationTo ensure a measure of sanitation butchers were fined for casting heads & feet of animals and any other offal into the High Street or elsewhere in the town.
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CHANNEL 4 TIME TEAM AT KENFIG
Latest News: Channel 4 Time Team episode was broadcast on Sunday 18 March 2012 - the episode is now available on Channel 4oD online at Channel 4oD online - Time Team at Kenfig
The Buried Medieval Town of Kenfig - 3 day Archaeological Dig (August 2011) - View Time Team Visit to Kenfig
The Channel 4 Time Team spent 3 days at Kenfig (Wed 10/Thu 11/Fri 12 August 2011) on an archaeological dig/filming expedition to locate the medieval buried town of
Kenfig in the sand near Kenfig Castle.
This section on Kenfig's website is aimed at documenting Channel 4 Time Team's actual visit to Kenfig in 2011 as this website project is being archived for
posterity through both the National Library of Wales & British Library.
EXPLORE TIME TEAM AT KENFIG - Learn about Time Team, cross-referenced information on Kenfig town's history, Live Time Team Twitter News Feed, photos of day 3 and Official embedded Time Team video footage from YouTube.
CHANNEL 4 TIME TEAM AT KENFIG -
View Time Team Visit to Kenfig
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Dyffryn Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway
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Signal Box, South Cornelly
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Horse-drawn coal dram
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Seal of the Duffryn Llynvi & Porthcawl Railway Company
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Background
Built between 1825 and 1829, The Dyffryn Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway connected a new harbour built at Porthcawl
with iron works that had sprung up further inland at Cefn Cribbwr, Aberkenfig and Maesteg.
The railway covered a total distance of 16¾ miles descending some 490 feet from its starting point
near Caerau, Maesteg. Designed for horse-drawn traffic it was a single track line with passing places and was
built to a 4ft 6inch gauge with the rails fixed to stone blocks rather than wooden sleepers so as to leave
a clear path between which horses and handlers could walk along.
A time-table dating from 1855 shows that it took 6¼ hours to travel from the terminus in the valley
to Porthcawl and that the return trip was about 2¼ hours longer.
The trains brought iron and coal to the coast for export to worldwide destinations and on the return trip
stopped at South Cornelly to collect lime for use at the iron works. As lime was an effective fertilizer, several
farmers in the Maesteg area with arrangement with the railway company, operated their own trams on the line
to collect supplies for their own use.
Passengers
Map of Kenfig Hill area
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Passenger traffic started on the line as early as 1836 and became increasingly important when the track
was converted to use by steam trains in 1861 making Porthcawl a popular destination for day trippers and holiday
makers alike. This section of line from Porthcawl to Cefn Cribbwr junction remained operational until the 1960's when
it was closed as a result of the Beeching Act.
At south Cornelly where a lane crossed the railway by a manned level crossing - the former gate keeper's
house still survives as a modernised private dwelling whilst opposite it stands the former local public house
known as The Three Horse Shoes (Originally called The Horse and Tram).
The public house fronted onto the railway and offered welcome refreshment for hauliers working the line
before setting off on the long return journey back to Maesteg.
This public house is now a private residence.
Last section of the Tramroad Track at Porthcawl
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Read more... coming soon
www.kenfig.org.uk/history/duffryn-llynfi-tram
Source: Bridgend Library & Information Serices, The Kenfig Hill & District Music & Art Society
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Margam Abbey c.1147-1536
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On this day in 1537 (476 years ago) Margam Abbey was surrendered to King Henry VIII under the Dissolution of the Monastries Act.
Historical Background
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Founded in 1147 by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, Margam Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey of the Mother House Clairvaux - its dissolution came
about in 1536 and was the first abbey to fall under the Dissolution of the Monastries by King Henry VIII.
The Abbey is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin and dates from the 2nd half of 12th century. There is no documentary evidence relating to Margam prior to
the arrival of the Normans, however, carved & inscribed monuments nearby indicate an earlier Christian presence. The Abbey is believed to have been built
on or near the site of an important Celtic monastic house.
History of Margam Abbey - Read more...Coming soon
www.kenfig.org.uk/history/margamabbey
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Kenfig Calvinistic Methodist Sunday School at Prince of Wales Inn, Kenfig c.1950's
The Sunday SchoolFormed by Mr & Mrs Richard Bowen c.1863 together with Mr Evan Howell, Mr Edmund Thomas & Mr William Rees. Initially the Sunday School was held at Mr & Mrs Bowen's house
at Ton Kenfig but transferred to the upstairs hall at the Prince of Wales Inn, Kenfig. The sunday school was held at this location up until recent years. The
average attendance in 1963 was 40 pupils when the school celebrated its centenary. A record 75 pupils attended the school in August 1923.
HISTORY - GENERAL - RELIGION ( Learn more... )THE KENFIG HERITAGE WEBSITE PROJECT - www.kenfig.org.uk/history/religion/
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Learn about the history of local Churches & Chapels & other religious centres together with Sunday Schools, Religious Events/Celebrations,
Parish Records and more including Interactive Maps outlining burial plots at various locations, this section aims to help those tracing family
tree information throughout the area.
Cefn CribbwrSiloam Chapel
Built in 1827, this was the first chapel to be built in Cefn Cribbwr. It is the oldest of the six places of worship in the village.
It is located at the top of Bedford Road and is set back off the road itself. The present day chapel is not the original as the structure
was rebuilt in 1855. It is a large structure with a cemetery to the front and rear. The original congregation were Welsh speakers, many of whom were local miners.
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Kenfig HillSt Theodore's Church & Vicarage
The Vicarage was born out of the vision & inspiration of Rev. Joshua Pritchard Hughes and was known locally as 'Bryn Eglwys' which was probably erected in 1882
before the church of St Theodore's alongside was built in 1889. It didn't become a vicarage until 1923 when Kenfig Hill became a Parish in its own right -
the building was demolished in 2007 for the development of housing after serving its community for over 125 years.
St Theodore's Church was supported & built by the Talbot Family of the Margam Estate and was named in honouring CRM Talbot's only son & heir who had died
following a riding accident in June 1876. More... St Theodore's Church & Vicarage, Kenfig Hill
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Pisgah Chapel, Kenfig Hill (founded c.1836)
Pisgah Chapel, Kenfig Hill
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Twyn Cottage, Water Street
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The Second Chapel 1857-1913
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Pisgah Baptist Chapel (Founded c.1836)
Pisgah Chapel, Kenfig Hill (founded c.1836) - The 1st Chapel opened Christmas Day 1836, 2nd Christmas Day 1857
& the 3rd present day building on 30 April 1913. Early Baptists worshiped at Twyn Cottage, Water Street, Caegarw Farm & Pwllygath Barn, Kenfig Hill before the chapel(s)
were built. A Famous visitor was Pastor Niemoller (former German U-Boat Commander in WWI).
This section contains the history of the chapel together with an Interactive map of Pisgah Chapel graveyard & an alphabetical burials listing that will aide local Genealogy Studies
together with the Kenfig Heritage Website Project Family Tree section.
Pisgah Chapel, Kenfig Hill (founded c.1836)
Tracing your Family Tree around Kenfig? Visit www.kenfig.org.uk |
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Interactive Map: Burial Plots
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Alphabetical Burials Listing
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HISTORY - GENERAL - RELIGION: Pisgah Chapel, Kenfig Hill (founded c.1836)
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Ty Maen, South Cornelly
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South Cornelly - Brief History
South Cornelly came into being as an Anglo-Norman settlement in the second half of the 12th century.
It is the 'original' Cornelly, though a document of the time indicates that it narrowly escaped being known as 'Thomastown' after Thomas son of William who was
an early Lord of the Manor here. His descendants subsequently adopted the name 'De Cornelly' and their house is believed to have stood
where the mansion called Ty Maen stands behind high walls on the main road through the village.
The earliest elements of the present building date from around 1650 and it incorporates many unusual features.
Above the main door is carved the war cry of the Knights Templar (
Non Nobis Domine, Non Nobis) whilst a pane of glass in one of the windows
depicts a coat of arms believed to be those of Bishop Law of Carlisle - neither he nor the Templars are known to have any
connections with this locality. A Priest's hole was discovered in an upstairs bedroom concealed behind an old cupboard.
The site of the old church was in a field where the present day house 'Meadowrise' is located which stood by the wall
nearlest the road opposite Ty Maen House.
Lamb Row (Rhes Yr Oen)
Lamb Row, South Cornelly
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Lamb Row was the original main street which led from the main road up to the small medieval chapel at the foot
of a rocky outcrop. Legend has it that the chapel was connected to Ty Maen by an underground passage - the chapel was dedicated
to a Breton saint named Cornelius from which the village took its name. The chapel was turned in to a cottage but
now is a forlorn ruin in the garden of a private house.
Not apparent when seen from the village, the entire back of the hill against which the chapel stood has been
quarried away over the past two centuries to supply lime for the iron and steel industry. It was one of several
such limeworks in the area and in the past South Cornelly and the surrounding countryside were perpetually coated
with light grey dust from the quarries and kilns.
Read more... The Kenfig Community - South Cornelly
North Cornelly - Brief History
Cornelly Cross
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Originally a sub manor of the Kenfig Borough which lay outside the boundaries of the Borough itself, its earliest holders were the Lupellus
family who later adopted the name Lovel. The earliest recorded name of the village from a document that dates from before 1183 is the rather cumbersome
'The Vill of Walter Lupellus'. The name Cornelly arose probably due to its close proximity to the crossroads (Cornelly Cross) where the road to the original
village of Cornelly (Present South Cornelly) branched off from the main road. The village adjoining the Cornelly junction therefore became known
by that name and 'North' and 'South' were added to distinguish between the two.
North Cornelly Cross
Once known as Croes y Green, this crossroads which stands at the heart of modern-day North Cornelly has been here for well over 700 years.
The original village lay some distance away from the cross to the north east in the area between the manor house (Hall Farm) and the present day New House Inn.
A blacksmith's shop was built on North Cornelly Cross about 1738 which continued in use until the early part of the 20th century.
Hall Farm North Cornelly
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Hall Farm - The Hall Manor
Map of Kenfig / Pyle District (A. Leslie Evans)
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This house in North Cornelly was built by Roger Gramus in 1245AD and preserves features of the Tudor building owned by the Turbervilles of Penllyne
[ Prominent Parish Surnames - Turbervilles ]
- Thomas Gray (c.1909) suggested that it occupied the site once owned by the Grammus family who flourished in the area in the 12th &
13th centuries. The courtyard at the rear is bounded by the battered walls of a ruined building of an earlier date.
Local Roads - Street Names
Heol Fach (Little Road)
Heol Fach, North Cornelly
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Despite its name (perhaps acquired when the 'Big Road' through Pyle was opened in the 15th century), Heol Fach during the medieval period was part of
the main highway through the coastal plain of Glamorgan.
Analysis of medieval documents shows that this road descended from Stormy Down along what is now 'Heol Y Sheet' on Broadlands Estate, as far as
Cornelly Cross and then headed towards the town of Kenfig. It was probably from this earlier period that it acquired the name of 'Cartway' which is
often given as an alternative in 17th century documents.
At the 'Croes Y Ddadl' road junction, (Maudlam Cross), Heol Fach connected with the ancient trackway leading down from Cefn Cribbwr to the coast.
The road to Pont Velin Newydd (certainly in being in the 13th century) and presumably a road leading direct to the town of Kenfig.
Water Street
Water Street which was part of the Roman coastal road, via Julia Maritima was called 'Heol-y-Troedwyr' (Road of the foot soldiers).
Julia Maritima
The Julia Maritima from Gloucester to Carmarthen passed Stormy Down, Cornelly, Maudlam and Kenfig to the south of the main road as far as Cwrt-y-Defaid.
Read more... The Kenfig Community - North Cornelly
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Table Tennis Ace from North Cornelly chosen for Paralympian Team
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Paralympian Paul Davies
Image source: Glamorgan Gazzette
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Paul Davies of North Cornelly is among 4 Welsh athletes chosen to take part in the Paralympic Games by the British Paralympic Association (BPA).
It's a dream come true for Paul Davies who was paralysed in an accident in 1986. It will be the first time the World-Ranked Number 9 is to go to the
Paralympics and something he's dreamed of for many years. 'It was a fantastic moment to be told that I had been selected to ParalympicsGB', he said.
It's a real honour and a very proud moment for my family. I have been working towards this moment for many years and it is the highlight
of my career.
Davies who trains at Pyle Leisure Centre has trained for 5 Paralympic Games over a period of 20 years before being selected to compete in London 2012.
Career Highlights
World Ranking: 9
Silver Medal at 2001 European Championships (beating 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist)
Source: Glamorgan Gazette & GEM Newspapers
KENFIG.ORG - 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
A Special Section on the 2012 Olympic Games will be made available on this website over the coming months where we will be documenting all local athletes
competing in both the able-bodied and Paralympic Games. We will also be documenting the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay that passes through our locality
on the A48 at Pyle enroute from Cardiff to Swansea on Saturday 26 May 2012.
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Life in 17th Century KenfigIn the early 1600's, the population of Kenfig was around 200. A church and village at Maudlam, a few scattered houses at Ton Kenfig and Sker Farm.
The Great Storm 1607 - Tsunami in Bristol Channel
On this day in 1607 (406 years ago) there was a great storm and many people lost their lives in the county when lowland areas became flooded.
(Experts now believe this was caused by a Tsunami in the Bristol Channel and not a storm or high tides.
At Kenfig, the sand made further inroads - times were also hard; there were bad harvests in the 1620's and 1630's due to excessive rain.
This also caused increased mortality of livestock, thus pushing up the price of all foodstuffs. Homes at this time were often workshops,
peasant farmers having to exploit every means possible to make ends meet.
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Cottage IndustriesLooms were set up in cottages where the whole family would help with the spinning, combing, weaving and stocking-knitting.
People made their own clothes and also sold garments at local fairs and markets. Tanning was also often carried in conjunction with
small-scale farming. It required a plentiful supply of oak bark, water and lime, all of which were available within the Kenfig area.
Some local PeopleWilliam Reese of Pyle and Kenfig was a cordwainer (Shoemaker) who also owned a cow, horse, lambs and ewes, grain and corn.
Richard Thomas of Kenfig was able to earn his living solely by being a cordwainer. In 1634 tanned hides were regulary exported from Newton.
In 1654 John Leyshon held a lease of all veins and mines of coal in Rugge (Cefn Cribbwr) lying 'Within the liberty of the Borough of Kenfig'.
He was a registered seaman and it is thought that coal was transported on the backs of horses or mules from Cefn to Newton to be shipped out.
The coal would have been cut out of the bottom of shallow bell pits and carried in baskets up ladders to the surface.
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Kenfig during Civil War Years (1642)
When Charles I became King in 1625 he believed he could rule by divine right without advice from Parliament. When civil war broke out between
his supporters and Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians, Wales was mostly Royalist in sympathy, the Kenfig area being no exception.
After Cromwell's death in 1658 his son failed to maintain politcal stability and Charles II was welcomed back from exile since people
were tired of the restrictions imposed by Puritan rule. By the summer of 1659 there had been a weeding out of political figures in
Glamorgan who had supported Cromwell's Protectorate.
In 1662 the Act of Uniformity was passed, compelling people to conform to rules of the Established Church and to use the Book of Common Prayer.
Lewis Aylward (Portreeve of the Kenfig Borough) was an ardent non-conformist and his house (either present day Kenfig Farm or Pool Farm), was used
for meetings after the passing of the Act. In 1664, a troop of soldiers arrested Jacob Christopher, a preacher at the house but he was later released.
He continued to use Aylward's house for meetings from 1672-75 but died a year later and was buried at Maudlam.
James II became King in 1685 and was unpopular with many people and with Parliament because he was suspected of trying to revert the country to the
Catholic faith. When the Duke of Monmouth tried to displace James, the same Lewis Aylward, along with Thomas Lougher of South Cornelly (Constable of Kenfig Castle),
was imprisoned in Chepstow Castle on the grounds he was sympathetic to Monmouth's cause. After Monmouth was beheaded in 1685 they were both freed.
Some Roman Catholic priests were executed for their faith in James' reign. Parliament ordered the local Justices of the Peace to seek them out.
Philip Evans was arrested at Sker House (Owned by Christopher Turberville) in 1678 and was later hung, drawn and quartered in Cardiff. He was canonized in 1970.
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Kenfig - The 1660 SurveyIn the mid 17th century it is known that only one cottage near the old Kenfig castle was occupied. A survey of the Borough was made in 1660 for it's lord,
the Earl of Pembroke,
by a jury of burgesses. It defined the Borough's boundaries.
At this time burgesses were sworn in by the portreeve without payment. Anyone could be a burgess as long as the portreeve and his aldermen agreed.
The portreeve, sergeant, constable of the castle, heyward and two ale-tasters were elected each year by all the burgesses.
This resulted in rather a confused situation, especially when several burgesses were sworn in at the same time.
The jurors admitted they did not know how many burgesses were within the Borough who ought to perform their 'suit of court' obligation.
Furthermore, they did not know how many houses or how many acres in the Borough had been overcome by sand.
Within the Borough and under the Lordship were two manors of free socage tenure.
These were the Paschall Hill holding (129 acres) and another unnamed holding of 145 acres. There were 19 people who rented various acreages of the
Paschall Hill holding at two and a half pence per acre. The 145 acres was divided between 20 tenants who again held various amounts at the nominal rent of
one red rose and three peppercorns a year. The tenants of the above holdings may or may not have been burgesses.
The 1660 survey also stated that one third of Kenfig Down (at Sker) which had been held by the monks of Neath Abbey was now held by Thomas Turberville
and enclosed. The rent of this unknown acreage was five shillings a year and paid to the Earl, but Thomas Turberville received the profit and benefit of that land.
The other two-thirds of the Down had been rented by the burgesses for ten shillings a year 'time out of mind' but now some of it was enclosed by them and they
could rent it to non-burgesses and receive the profit. They held an unknown quantity of enclosed land in the common called Rugge (Cefn Cribbwr) in the same way.
The fishing rights of Kenfig Pool were also theirs.
Local FashionsDuring this century of Stuart rule fashions changed considerably. Men's hair was long and curled, cavalier's dress was elaborate with long
lace collars and cuffs, loose breeches with ribbons at the knees and wide leather boots.
Women's skirts were high waisted and often looped up. The puritans, in marked contrast wore plain dark garments with white collars and aprons.
They wore their hair short. When Charles II came to the throne, rich people dressed even more elaborately and expensively but the poor still wore simple wollen garments.
The homes of the poor were draughty and smokey as chimneys were dispensed of due to Chimney Tax. Glass was also taxed so windows were made with paper
soaked in oil. The better off people had comfortable homes with four-poster beds and padded chairs in contrast.
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)The Kenfig Heritage Project - MAIN HISTORY SECTION
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The Beginning of The Margam Estate - 1668The Earl of Pembroke
sold his manor of Kenfig to Sir Edward Mansel
of Margam for Ł525 (five hundred and twenty five pounds) in 1668.
It included decayed castle, all property, lands, woods, mineral rights at Cefn Cribbwr, waters, warrens, fishing, rents and other rights.
Sir Edward's descendants, the Mansel-Talbots inherited these until the estate was broken up and sold in 1941.
Learn more... The Margam Estate
Manorial Courts at KenfigEarly records of manorial courts held in the Pyle and Kenfig district begin in 1676. They were presided over by the stewards and portreeve and there were three types:
Petty offences included selling ale at short measure, not grinding corn at the mill where 'suit of mill' licence was held, not repairing the highway,
not assisting in planting sedges and shooting partridges within the Borough precinct. The courts continued in the area until 1816.
Court Records
Wigmore was the burning of seaweed to provide fertiliser for the land. It is also known that lime-burning went on at Cornelly - there being a plentiful
supply of limestone as well as coal not too far away. Often lime was applied far too liberally as it was thought of as a fertiliser.
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Bridgend Farmers' Market, Capital Region Tourism
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Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) was one of many exhibitors at a successful 'This is Your heritage...discover it today!' exhibition held at Bethlehem Church
Life Centre, Cefn Cribwr on Saturday 21 January 2012. This event was promoted by Bridgend REACH (The Bridgend Rural Development Program, Bridgend County
Borough Council).
History & Heritage Steering Group
Kenfig.org Local Community Group who is responsible for this webiste is pleased to announce its association with Bridgend REACH with its History & Heritage
Steering Group which aims to help promote the history, heritage & tourism aspects of the Bridgend County together with the nation of Wales as a whole.
Collabarate Working
This heritage exhibition has paved the way forward to collaborative working between like-minded individuals & organisations in forging long-term relations &
business opportunities in addition to promoting both the heritage & tourism aspects of what the county has to offer.
The Kenfig.org Local Community Group found the exhibition very rewarding and is looking forward to extending our services as time goes by.
We would like to thank the management & staff at both the Bethlehem Church Life Centre & Bridgend REACH for hosting such a great event.
Further Information
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Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust
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Glamorgan Archives, Cardiff
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Ogmore Valley History & Heritage Society
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Llynfi Models
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Bridgend Beekeepers, 1940s Swansea Bay, Conservation & Design, BCBC
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Gangs of men known as the Cefn Riders & the Red Goblins have become legendary figures in local folklore within the Kenfig & surrounding area.
Cefn Cribbwr is a sprawling village running along the top of a spur or ridge whose height & shape give it a commanding position in the area.
From anywhere in Cefn the surrounding countryside can clearly be seen and the potential for defence was spotted by its earliest peoples; the ancient Britons
built a camp or fort here which was known as Castell Kribor, defences were also built on the appproach routes to Cefn eg. Pyle.
From the top of the ridge the people of Cefn were able to look about them and feel quite secure. By the 19th century they had almost become
a people apart & any stranger visiting the area would be eyed with silent hostility and suspicion & at worst attacked so fiercely they would think
twice before venturing there again.
The soil on the ridges was so poor that it was impossible for any large community to remain there and so bands of tougher men descended upon the
lowlands taking what they required. No farm or building was safe, sheep and cattle began to disappear in large quantities. From this small step to
plain thuggery the Cefn Riders as they came to be called roamed far & wide attacking strangers and packmen.
Travelling mostly on foot but sometimes on horseback they became greatly feared as far afield as Merthyr and the Vale of Glamorgan; showing
little mercy to their victims - there is a very good description of 1 of their attacks in Alexander Cordell's, 'The Fire People' in which the Riders
indulge in a favourite pastime of leaping on a traveller's back & forcing them to carry them some way along the journey.
The Red Goblins
The Red Goblins lived in the mountainous area between the Garw & Maesteg, these too were a band of ruffians living on what they stole
from peoples living in the lowlands. From their caves on the mountainside they travelled in sweeping raids. Their favourite hunting
ground was from the Vale of Glamorgan to the coast.
On one occasion they caught the Carmarthenshire Drovers on their way to the meat markets of London & stole their entire herd, on another
occasion they captured an aristocratic lady of the Carne family & held her to ransome.
The Red Goblins appear to have been capable of gallant acts & they always treated women honourably. Sometimes 'men of good breeding' joined
the gang in search of adventure - in spite of this, mothers were able to make their children behave with the phrase...
Hush! or the Red Goblins will get you.
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Sources: Bridgend County Borough Library & Information Services,
(Books - Legends of Porthcawl & the Glamorgan Coast - Alun Morgan, Buried City of Kenfig - Thomas Gray, Folklore & Folk Stories of Wales - Marie Trevelyan)
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Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) - The Kenfig Heritage Project
Kenfig Times - Echos from the Past
The Kenfig Community - North Cornelly, Maudlam & Kenfig
Kenfig Times - Old Shops of North Cornelly, Maudlam & Kenfig
Court House, Blue StreetOwned by Mrs Caroline David - this was a dark room with uneven flagstones, fitted out with counter, drawers & brass scales;
the shop sold materials such as cotton, buttons, fastners & boots (not shoes) which were hanging up on nails from a raftered ceiling.
The shop also had bee-hives on the front lawn & sold beeswax in the shape of a basin mould & honey. Some sweets such as Fry's Cream chocolate was usually on the counter.
The CO-OP, Blue StreetBuilt next door to Court House this was at one time Harris's Photographic Studio & a grocery shop owned by Willie Thomas of Tymaen.
David's The Butchers, MaudlamThis was a village shop in what was formally the Butcher's Arms - it was also a Post Office.
Jenkin Morgan, MaudlamFirstly this was a shop in the parlour at Fir Tree Cottage and later across the road at Heol Las Farm - the shop sold sweets.
Miss Vaughan's, Ton KenfigThis shop was formally operated by Mrs Skinner & later by Miss Vaughan - its was situated behind the former Windrush Restaurant.
Mrs Jenkin's, Ton KenfigA wooden shop adjacent to Pen y Lan.
Marie Vaughan's, Near New House, CornellyThis shop was situated between Fairfield House (4 new houses today) & the New House Inn - this is where the so called 'Parish' was paid out.
Pear Tree Cottage, Old RoadParlour type shop situated behind the New House Inn
Mrs Powell's, Grit Hill, Old RoadSmall parlour shop on the then main road to Pyle (Ffordd y Eglwys) - Mrs Powell also had a wooden cabin shop at Pyle station.
Dampier's, Heol Fach, CornellyGeorge Dampier built a shop in the early 1920's - it was the only newsagent's in the area (the nearest newsagent was at Kenfig Hill).
A Fish & Chip shop was opened in Belmont House, Heol Fach, prior to this William's Fish & Chip shop was next door before Belmont House had been built.
Before both these food shops, a Fish & Chip Cart used to operate around the district.
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Granny Bowen's, Pearl Cottage, Blue StreetThis was a small parlour shop operating from chest of drawers. The 4 cottages were apparently at one time: a private house, the 1st cottage being the stable, the
2nd the kitchen, the 3rd the living room & the 4th the lounge. At one time there was a tailor's in the upstairs of the first cottage.
Old Post Office, Curwen Terrace, CornellyBuilt c.1911 by Will Evans as a shop. It was made the Post Office c.1922. This also was Thomas & Evans, Peglar's, & Jeff Roberts Electrical.
Blacksmith's Shop, Cornelly CrossWilliam John's stone built shop on the cross - this was later re-built across the road as a tin-built forge.
School Terrace, CornellyCarpenter's shop at Cornelly Court, Saunder's shoe shop & Roger Evan's Fish & Chip shop.
E.W.John, Butcher, Heol Fach, CornellyBuilt in early 1920's by Evan John, father of Willie John & grandson Arwyn. This butchers closed sometime ago.
Glen Rosa Cafe, Heol Fach, CornellyStarted by Mrs Elizabeth Hughes at Ton Kenfig as a summer shop in the late 1920's - its was incorporated into the house at
Heol Fach and run for many years by her daughter Betty Jenkins. It had a long room with a billiard table & was used at one time as
a meeting place for the Kenfig Women's Institute, Church Sunday School & as a local political meeting place. There was a wooden seat on the
verandah and was always the haunt of youngsters of the area.
Webb's, Heol Fach, CornellyA grocery/sweet shop opened in the late 1920's. This shop was next to Edward's newsmarket which is presently a hairdressing salon.
Broad's, Heol Fach, CornellyOpened in early 1930's by Sammy Evans as a sweet shop.
Roach's Fruit Shop, Heol Fach, CornellyMrs Davies started a shop in Brecon House which was later opened as a fruit shop by Tom Roach & later still as the doctor's surgery.
Old Cottages, top of Blue StreetIn the 2nd of the two old cottages that once stood at the top end of Blue Street, Mrs Jack Carter sold home-brewed pop made from herbs etc from nearby fields.
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St John Ambulance
The Kenfig Community - Kenfig Hill
St John Ambulance Kenfig Hill Division - started c.1909
St John Ambulance Kenfig Hill Division c.1920
The Ambulance Hall Kenfig Hill c.1937
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The St John Ambulance Movement
The movement in Kenfig Hill started c.1909 when the first class was held at Kenfig Hill School for the purpose of rendering First Aid to the injured.
After 2 years a committee was formed which met at the home of Dr Cooper. First Aid grew to such an extent that classes were held at the Talbot Institute from 23 March 1912
- the Kenfig Hill Division was officially formed in this year with the Cefn Cribbwr Division being formed in 1913.
Prize draws & concerts were organised to raise funds to purchase uniforms with equipment & stretchers kindly donated. There were an average of 120 injuries
treated each year by the Kenfig Hill Division.
The Ambulance HallThis was built in 1914 at a cost of Ł190. It was located to the north of Mynydd Cynffig Junior School on the site presently occupied by the Air Training Corps
Headquaters (2117 (Kenfig Hill) Squadron - Air Training Corps). When the division celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1937 it consisted of 23 Ambulance men,
a nursing division of 14 & a cadet force of 25.
The division had a fine team which won many cups & shields at the National Eisteddfod Ambulance Competitions.
In 1924 the St John Priory of Wales stationed an Ambulance Car at Kenfig Hill which was initially housed near the Ambulance Hall but was moved to a garage on
Pisgah Street opposite Pyle Welfare (Pyle Life Centre) when the ambulance hall was taken down.
The Ambulance Hall was demolished in the late 1970's and the division was wound up for practicable purposes in 1984.
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Llanfihangel Mill, Pyle c.1920's
One of the Granges of Margam Abbey - The Mill was fed via a sluce from a dam & waterfall upstream at the Collwyn. The mill was still working in 1926.
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Stone Bridge over River Kenfig
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Stone Bridge over River Kenfig
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The old mill is situated in a hollow below Marlas and is approached via a stone bridge over the River Kenfig. In former times it was held
by the monks of Margam as one of the Granges of Margam Abbey (St. Michael's) and was attached to the nearlby farm - mention to this is made in 1186.
The mill was leased by lay tenants and served the needs of the people around Pyle until 1926. The Mill was fed via a sluce from a dam & waterfall upstream
at the Collwyn.
The earliest known lay tenant was Thomas ap David who secured a lease upon the mill in 1527.
Following the dissolution of Margam Abbey the mill was acquired by the Mansel family (1536 - 1750)
at this time there were 3 other corn mills operating in the area but by 1700 Llanfihangel was the only 1 still operational.
Between 1724-1725 considerable renovation work were carried out and by 1739 a drying kiln had been added. In 1751 machinery for a second mill had been installed.
(The tenant at this time was Edward Harris (d.1756) who was Portreeve of the Kenfig Borough for 14 consecutive years between 1742 & 1756
- Kenfig Portreeves 1339-1886)
The farm which is screened from view from the highway has labelled & mullioned windows which date from the late 16th century. When new windows
were inserted in the south wall in 1959 sections of a small moulded & cusped 14th century window were found. Scores of pigeon holes can be seen in the
northern pine end and nearby stands a large ruined building believed to have been used as a tithe barn. In 1358 and abbey lay brother named Meuric who
worked at the grange was indicted for harbouring felons there.
Ffynnon Collwyn Spring
Along the Collwyn behind St James' Church a flight of steps leads down to a small spring at the very edge of the
river. This is known as Ffynnon Collwyn and was formally a healing well, the waters of which were claimed to have medicinal properties.
Unusual Story Connected with the Mill
In 1833 an 11 year old girl named Ann Thomas was at the mill when her clothing became caught in the machinery "which machinery whirled her about
with such violence as to mangle her whole frame in such a shocking manner as caused her instantaneous death". The girl was the daughter of a carpenter named Thomas Thomas
from Pyle - 8 years later he was employed to carry out repairs to the waterwheel; "His foot slipt or entangled in the said water wheel, so that his head went
between the said water wheel and the wall, by means whereof the said Thomas Thomas then and there instantly died".
History of Neighbouring Villages & Towns around Kenfig
Learn the history of each of the neighbouring villages and towns that surround the old borough of Kenfig. In this section you can learn of the history of each individual area.
Kenfig / Ton Kenfig | Maudlam / Mawdlam | South Cornelly | North Cornelly | Pyle / Pil | Kenfig Hill | Cefn Cribbwr | Stormy Down | Margam
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) THE KENFIG COMMUNITY
History of Neighbouring Villages & Towns around Kenfig
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Image source: The Shipwreck 1772 (Claude Vernet)
Marine Art - Wikipedia
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On this day in 1781 (231 years ago), the vessel CATERINA was lost at Sker Point. Hundreds of local people converged upon the wreck with a lawless attitude
totally indifferent to the sufferance of her crew. The newly formed fellowship put a guard on the ship and a pitch battle broke out - 3 people were killed.
Hanged for Plundering
The plunderers were later caught and jailed but tranferred to Hereford to prevent the locals from freeing them. One of these, John Webb was later hanged.
The cargo of the CATERINA consisted of cotton, several casks of wine, brandy, currants & other goods.
Footnote:
Some 28 years before the wreck of the CATERINA in 1753, a similar occurrence of the shameful plundering of wrecks by local people happened with
LE VAINQUEUR again at Sker and in the same month.
Outling the severity with which the authorities meant to deal with offenders by affixing noticies to local parish church doors advising,
"that the looting of wrecks was punishable by death" this didn't seem work as a deterent to the practise of looting wrecked vessels.
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
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King Henry VIII & KenfigKing Henry VIII Wikipedia
The overwhelming of Kenfig by the sands in the late 15th century was just a memory by 1538 when Leland, the Kings Antiquary visited the area.
He wrote of the castle and village being in ruins and 'almost shokid and devourid with sand that the Severne Se castith up'. He referred to the
Kenfig River as Colebrooke and mentioned good corn and grass at Sker.
At this time, King Henry VIII dissolved the monastries. Margam was the first to go in Glamorgan and when the monks left, all their property,
which included some burgages at the site of the old town of Kenfig, fell to the Crown. The lands were sold to various buyers and Margam, Pyle,
Stormy, Kenfig Higher (the area north of the Kenfig river) and coal pits in Cefn Cribbwr were acquired in 1546 by Sir Rice Mansel of Oxwich and Penrice in the Gower.
He settled at Margam a little later. The Lordship of Kenfig Borough itself was Henry VIII's since he was Lord of Glamorgan, but by 1550 it was sold to
Sir William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke.
Life in 16th Century KenfigTudor Period (1485-1603) / Elizabethan EraDuring the Tudor period, houses in some areas were constructed of a timber framework (usually of oak) with wattle and plaster in between and
topped with a thatched roof. Many great oaks grew at Margam and it is known that some were transported as far as Plymouth for ship building.
It is probable that most of the houses in the area now known as Ton Kenfig and in the village of Maudlam were built of local stone.
The Guildhall, the present 'Prince of Wales Inn' dates from the 16th century as does Sker House.
Glass was expensive so was only seen in the houses of the wealthy. Homes of farmers and merchants contained furniture such as settles,
wooden armchairs, carved beds with feather mattresses lain across ropes and wollen blankets.
Peasant's huts were more sparsely furnished with just a few stools, pots and a wooden chest. The hut floor was of earth and the
fire was built on a hearthstone with a basket hood to take the smoke out through the smoke hole.
Poor people wore rough cotton or wollen clothes while a well-off farmer dressed in leather doublet and hose. Wealthy women had tight-bodied
dresses with padded sleeves and cloaks were worn in cold weather. The climate deteriorated over western Europe during the latter half of the
century and there was a succession of bad harvests and a famine in 1556.
Working in the area
Although iron and coal working was gradually on the increase in Glamorgan, most of the people worked on the land including those of the
Kenfig area. Many died from malnutrition and there was also an influenza epidemic.
In Elizabeth I's region, laws were made to help the poor since the closing of the monasteries meant there were no monks to provide
charity and the practice of keeping sheep had resulted in fewer people required to work the soil. More corn was grown and the numbers of cattle increased.
At this time there were water mills for grinding corn at Llanfihangel Farm and at Pont Felin Newydd.
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Catholic Counter Reformation and Kenfig
Elizabeth I was determined to thwart the Catholic Counter Reformation which had begun in the reign of Mary Tudor. Those who refused to attend Church of
England services were fined twenty pounds a month and then two thirds of their estates were fortified if the fine was not paid. In 1585 it was high treason
for Popish priests to remain in the country.
Despite these measures the people of Kenfig and surrounding areas remained faithful Catholics - maybe due to the lasting influence of the dissolved abbey at
Margam and the activities of the priests harboured by the Turbervilles of Sker. Mary Tudor had also been respected by the people of South Wales
since she was seen to be Henry VIII's true heir while Elizabeth was the daughter of the unpopular Anne Boleyn.
Thomas ab Ieuan ap Rees (c.1510-60) was a bard from Tythegston who sang before the dissolution of the monastries - he was a devout Catholic and composed a
verse on the accession of Mary Tudor. One of his other poems tells of his imprisonment in the town of Kenfig.
King Philip of Spain & MargamThere is a story which tells of King Philip of Spain, a suitor for Elizabeth's hand, sending her a gift of orange and lemon trees.
The ship was wrecked on Kenfig Sands but the trees were saved and planted at Margam. They were not formally presented to the Mansels of
Margam until Queen Anne's time and it was not until 1785 that the Orangery was erected for their protection. It is debatable whether the
cultivation of orange trees would have continued in Margam for such a length of time before the orangery was built.
Important Dates
More in-depth information on Kenfig during the 16th century can be viewed on the Kenfig History Timeline c.1147-1886
...Read more
Kenfig Timeline c.1147-1886
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)The Kenfig Heritage Project - MAIN HISTORY SECTIONDocumenting entire history of Kenfig & surrounding Area from Prehistory to Present Day
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1570 SurveyA survey of the Kenfig Borough in 1570 mentioned several free tenants holding land within the borough.
The annual burgage rent was twenty shillings. Thirty-three shillings and four pence was payable by each burgess when the heir of a deceased lord took possession.
Free tenants and burgesses owed 'suit of court' (an obligation to attend the hundred court and another two yearly courts).
The hundred court was granted by the Crown to a lordship and all free men 'assembled in their hundred'. These tenants were excused
obligations such as suit of mill (having to grind their own corn at the manorial mill) and heriots (payments made to the lord on the death of a tenant).
An ordinance of the Borough added in 1572 descibed the enclosing and ditching of part of the free common at Cefn Cribbwr - this common apparently
extended from Cattpitt (Pwll-y-Gath, Kenfig Hill) to the ridge of Coity. The enclosed land was given to the Borough by the Lords of Glamorgan to
replace ground at Kenfig covered by sand. 29 burgesses shared the area.
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Sker House Rear View
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Local Shipwrecks:
LE VAINQUEUR - lost at Sker Rocks on 17 December 1753
On this day in 1753 (259 years ago), the French Merchantman, Le Vainqueur struck Sker Rocks. She was enroute from Lisbon to Le Harve when her
captain entered the Bristol Channel under the belief it was the English Channel, a fatal mistake made by others before and after.
In her holds were 789 chests of oranges, 650 frails of figs, 240 boxes of lemons and 84 planks of Brazilian hardwood. Of her 10 man crew,
8 survived, yet her Captain and the first mate, both brothers were drowned.
Shameful Plundering
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The shameful plundering executed by the local people with much of the cargo destined for the banqueting halls of the French nobility,
was to provide a clandlestine Christmas feast for the people of Margam and Kenfig.
News of her plight spread through the county like wildfire and within hours, hundreds of people were swarming over the stricken vessel
grabbing whatever booty they could. Some hacked at the woodwork and even set it alight in an attempt to recover the nails - everything had salvage value.
The Captain's body was rifled of 17 Portuguese gold pieces, his silver shoe and knee buckles and a silver watch - this last item was recovered from
a Pyle watchmaker to whom the thief had taken it with a view to repair.
Local Arrests
17 people were arrested for looting and several accussed, cited Issac Williams of Sker as having a hand in the plundering of the wreck.
Better known as the father of ' Elizabeth Williams, The Maid of Sker ' -
he was at this time both the Constable for the Hundred of Newcastle and a local magistrate.
He was to claim that he simply removed as much cargo to Sker House as possible to protect it, while this maybe correct, his cause wasn't made
any stronger by the fact that some of these goods were stolen during the night, despite having been put under guard.
During the subsequent enquiry, two witnesses gave statements as to William's conduct and whilst there was insufficient evidence for Williams
to be brought to trial, it is said that local people never trusted him again and that he went in some fear of his life.
The Outcome
Of those arrested, 1 was hanged and to help bring the severity with which the authorities meant to deal with offenders,
notices were affixed to local parish church doors advising, "that the looting of wrecks was punishable by death".
Le Vainqueur
Background Information
Further InformationLe Vainqueur, a French vessel belonging to Harve de Grace was returning home from Lisbon. Her Captain, John Masson made the mistake
of entering the Bristol Channel instead of the English Channel. His ship became stranded at a place called 'ye Scar' - she became
completely wrecked and was extensively looted by crowds of people. When the ship struck, it started to break up quickly. Captain Masson,
his brother, The Mate and a passenger were all drowned. 8 of the crew, however, were saved. An eye witness accounts of a wreck on Sker
Rocks with a crowd of 400 people swarming all over the vessel is noted. It also said that the wreckers tried to set fire to the hull
so that any iron could be recovered.
WreckingMany people regarded a wrecked ship as a divine gift - some believed that ships wrecked on those rocks were the right of the local populous.
The authorities were shocked at the wrecking, one officer stated 'that if they had known sooner they could have caught the villans'.
Another report said that when a baliff went to recover some of the cargo an angry mob threatened him with his life. He promptly left
the scene and said he would not return even if he was offered Ł50. Lloyds List summed up the event by saying 'the Country people made a perfect wreck of the Ship and Cargo'.
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Type: |
Sailing Ship, unknown rig |
Port of Registry: |
Dieppe, France |
Owner: |
Harve de Grace |
Date of Sinking: |
17 December 1753 |
Location: |
Sker Rocks, Porthcawl, Glamorgan |
Source: Yvonne Carr (Shipwrecks around and about Kenfig), Tom Bennett (Shipwrecks around Wales - Happy Fish Publishers, Dyfed), Lloyds Register of Ships
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
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Sker House Rear View
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Sker House Front View
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Saint Philip Evans (1645-1679)
Arrested at Sker House - 04 December 1678
On this day in 1678 (334 years ago), Father Philip Evans, a Roman Catholic priest was arrested at the home of Christopher Turberville at Sker, Glamorgan.
When he refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, he was imprisoned alone in Cardiff Castle. He had been
arrested in the hysteria of the Titus Oates plot to kill King Charles II.
After five months the priest was brought to trial but when no evidence of his complicity could be produced, he
was charged with being a priest (which was illegal in the realm) - few were willing to serve as witnesses. He was
convicted on the evidence of two poor women who were suborned to say that they had seen Father Evans celebrating Mass.
He was executed on Gallows Field (north eastern end Richmond Road, Cardiff) - Father Evans addressed the onlookers
in Welsh and English - He was executed along with John Lloyd saying 'Adieu, Mr Lloyd, though for a little time,
for we shall shortly meet again '. The feast day of St. Philip Evans is on 25 October.
Father Philips died at Cardiff, 22 July 1679. He was beatified in 1929, canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty
Martyrs of England and Wales.
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Background
Philip Evans was born in Monmouthshire in 1645 and educated at Saint-Omer, he joined the Society of Jesus when he was 20 and was ordained at Ličge, Belgium, in 1675.
Father Philip was sent back to Wales to minister to the Catholics in the southern part of the country. For several years he zealously ministered to
his flock unmolested, but the civil authorities turned a blind eye until November 1678 - although John Arnold, a justice of the peace and hunter of priests,
offered a Ł200 bounty for his arrest, Father Evans refused to leave his flock untended.
Kenfig during Civil War Years (1642)
KENFIG - The Complete History (e-Resource) ...... HISTORY | WAR YEARS | COMMUNITY | FOLKLORE | THE COAST
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St Mary Magdalene Church, Maudlam c.1907 view from South
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Maudlam Church (Built c.1255) - (Parish of Pyle & Kenfig)
Dedicated to St.Mary Magdalene, Maudlam Church (built c.1255). It isn't the parish church due to a consistory court,
which met at Margam in 1485, deciding that this status be accorded to St.James' church, Pyle; even though Maudlam Church
is some 200 years older. Learn more about the church including a Live Church in Wales Twitter news feed.
Read more... Maudlam Church
St James' Church, Kenfig (Built c.1147-1154)
Built c.1147-1154 by the Normans & endowed to Tewkesbury Abbey, St James' Church was located close to Kenfig Castle
in the medieval town of Kenfig. It is believed that St James' Church at Kenfig was removed stone by stone & rebuilt at
Pyle being renamed St James' at that location in the 15th century.
Read more... St James' Church, Kenfig
St James' Church, Pyle (Built c.1471)
Known locally as 'The Upside-down Church' as it is reputed that when the sands threatened to engulf Kenfig,
the old church of St James' in the town was dismantled stone by stone and re-built in 'reverse' at it's present location.
The Church was built c.1471 - St James' Church, Pyle is the Parish Church for the benefice of Pyle and Kenfig.
Read more... St James' Church, Pyle
THE KENFIG COMMUNITY |
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) THE KENFIG COMMUNITY
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HISTORY - KENFIG |
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource) HISTORY SECTION |
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The Seal of Kenfig BoroughThe seal was used by Alice, the widow of John Peruat, (former Burgess of Kenfig) for her gifts of land & 2 burgages in the town of Margam Abbey
in 1320 & 1321 because 'her seal is unknown to many persons'.
In August 1325 the seal was used by John Nichol of Kenfig when he quit-claimed to the monks all his land & burgages in the town. This wasn't the only seal used by the burgesses. John (son of Henry de Bonville) used the Kenfig Borough Seal on a receipt for payment in lieu
of arrears on a pension he was receiving from the monks.
Instead of an ornamental cross between 4 pellets, the seal outlined displays the device of a fleur-de-lis.
The Iron Age
7th Century Iron Age CampPen-y-Castell, Kenfig HillThis fortification was 700 feet long by 220 feet wide strategically positioned on the crest (Ton) to command a military position over the 2 valleys either side
& the approaches from the sea. Remains of the camp were extensively damaged by quarrying in 19th century.
A 9th century fortification on Stormy Down were completely destroyed by more recent quarrying during the 20th century.
Reference: Iron Age Britain Wikipedia
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Kenfig - A Medieval TownA Brief BackgroundArchaeological evidence has suggested that there has been a settlement at Kenfig since Roman times. Pieces of Romano-British pottery,
a roofing tile and a coin depicting the emperor Constans (337 – 350 A.D.) have been found. Additionally, a Roman road runs through the Borough
complete with mile stones. These mile stones are situated in Margam and Pyle and they carry inscriptions to the emperors
Postumus (259 – 268 A.D.)
and Victorinus (268 - 270 A.D.) respectively. In the wider landscape Neolithic arrowheads, scrapers, a dwelling and a burial urn have also been
uncovered suggesting that Kenfig has been a home to people for at least 4000 years.
The Iron AgeIron Age settlements were constructed to the North and to the East of Kenfig providing a continuity of occupation into Roman times.
The Iron Age people of Kenfig were known as the Silures and they were led by Bodvoc, son of Caitegern, great-grandson of Eternalis Vedomavus.
Bodvoc was killed in the struggle against Rome by legionaries commanded by
Julius Frontinus. The ‘Bodvoc Stone’, a tribute to the Silurian leader,
now stands in the Margam stones museum.
The RomansThe Romans were converted to Christianity by the Emperor Constantine in 313 A.D. and the pagan tribes of Kenfig were forced to abandon their
gods and worship the god of Rome. As Christianity took hold among the Silures, and Britain as a whole, monasteries were built, including an early
structure at Margam. To this day, an abbey exists at Margam, thus providing a link to those early Christian founding fathers.
Irish, Angles, Saxons & VikingsBy 410 A.D. the Roman Empire was in decay and the troops stationed in Britain were called back to defend Rome. The vacuum left by the Romans
was filled by numerous raiders over the coming centuries, including the
Irish,
the Angles,
the Saxons and the Vikings. It is suggested that the
Vikings settled in the area and that local place names such as Sker, and Kenfig itself, are of Viking origin.
The NormansBy the 11th century a new power had emerged in Europe: descendants of the Vikings, the Normans
invaded Britain and led by Robert Fitzhamon they
took control of Kenfig, c1100 A.D. A castle was built, initially of wood, to help suppress any local opposition and that was followed by a church,
dedicated to St James. A town was established, made up of Norman and English settlers, and a system akin to apartheid was set in place.
Needless to say, the indigenous people, who were largely excluded from the town, took exception to this imposition and the town was raided on the
13th January 1167. As a result of this, and subsequent raids, the wooden castle was replaced by a stone tower and the donjon that would come to
dominate Kenfig for the next 300 years was born.
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FAMOUS PEOPLE OF KENFIG THROUGH THE AGES
Ben, the Hermit of Kenfig Sands - View Story
The Story of a Welsh 'Robinson Crusoe', the difference being that he was cast up from a coal mine and not by the sea.
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KENFIG NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE SSSI
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THE TOWN HALL - PRINCE OF WALES INN
The Prince of Wales InnThe Town Hall of the Ancient Borough of Kenfig replaced the old guild hall of the ancient Borough which once stood in the
old medieval town and is the focal point of the Borough both within its present and former transitions.
The building is owned by The Kenfig Corporation Trust; its upstairs room has been in continuous usage for centuries and
it was within this very room that the Burgesses exercised their rights granted by the Kenfig charters.
Kenfig - The Complete History (e-Resource)
Read more... History Section |
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Welsh Wills online
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